Abstract [en]

﻿Keeping wheel profiles in an acceptable condition is a major concern for both railway operators and infrastructure owners. The condition of the wheels influences both their wear and the required rail maintenance. Wheel wear affects the dynamic characteristics of vehicles and the dynamic force impact on the rail and, in a worst case scenario, can cause derailment. This paper studies the correlation of wear rate and wheel force to temperature and seasonal differences, monitoring eight identical wheel axles of different ages for a full life cycle. The study notes differences in wheel wear and wheel/rail forces while operating with a 30 ton axle load and in temperatures ranging from -30°C to +30°C. It measures speed, vertical and lateral forces for every train passage and calculates the lateral-to-vertical force ratio at a research station near Luleå, Sweden. The study concludes that wheel wear is significantly greater at lower temperatures. The magnitude and variation of lateral forces are strongly dependent on the bogie position, with the highest peak value recorded for the leading low rail. The L/V ratio is strongly seasonally dependent with large differences within a month due to changes in friction.